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ed。 〃We'll talk about it； but first； please； set my mind at ease。 Tell me that no one who matters saw you enter this particular room。〃
Umrae scowled； apparently irked by the very suggestion。 〃No； of course not。〃
〃Then for pity's sake； take off your clothes。 You supposedly came here for a deepstroke； and you want to look as if you've had one when you get back home。 Besides； these fellows are worth the rent。〃
Still frowning as if she suspected Waerva was perpetrating some sort of joke at her expense； Umrae gestured brusquely to the human； slightly smaller and less muscular than his patriot； whom the Baenre had left for her use。 Careful not to make eye contact； the slave began to undress her and hang her garments on the hooks set in the wall。
〃So what are we going to do？〃 the moner asked。 〃She's guarded。 Even with the resource you gave me； I'm not sure I could kill her and escape； but surely you have skilled assassins at your disposal。〃
〃Of course。〃 Waerva had to close her slanted ruby eyes as her body sernotvant squeezed and rubbed another clenched muscle into warm； limp subnotmission。 It was remarkable how she didn't even realize they were tight until the masseur got his hands on them。 〃Murder would have its advantages。 It would take her off the sava board for good and all。〃
〃Then we're agreed？〃 Umrae asked as she lay down on her couch。 Her body servant gently spread her mane of coarse white hair to expose the flesh beneath。
Waerva grinned。 〃You sound so eager。〃
〃I admit I'm not fond of her。〃 Umrae's human opened a white porcenotlain bottle of unguent； and a sweet scent tinged the air。 〃That's not the point。 The point is to shield us all for as long as we need it。〃
〃I quite agree；〃 said Waerva； 〃and my concern is that an assassination could prove counterproductive。 Might it not call attention to your misnottress's suspicions？ Might it not lend weight to them？ Does she not have a deputy of like mind ready to take over in the event of her demise？〃
Urnrae scowled； pondering the questions； plainly not enjoying it much。 Her slave spread a thin coat of amber oil onto her back。
From elsewhere in the building echoed the faint； distorted sounds of shouting； laughter； and splashing。 Waerva guessed it must be males amusnoting themselves in one of the bathing pools。 The females of the city were scarcely in the mood for boisterous horseplay。
At last Umrae said； 〃All right； what do you want to do？〃
〃Counter the threat in a subtler way。 She can't injure us if she's never afnotforded the chance to confirm her suspicions。〃
〃How will you ensure that？〃 Umrae's voice quavered as her thrall began to lightly pummel her gleaming back with the bottoms of his fists。
Good luck loosening up those petrified limbs； Waerva thought。 〃I am a priestess of the Baenre； am I not？〃
〃The least of them。〃
〃How insolent of you to say so。〃 Waerva tensed with annoyance until her masseur's hands rebuked her。
〃I only meant…〃
〃I know what you meant； and I don't deny it。 It's why I'm here； after all。 Yet consider this： My aunt Triel has always depended on the advice of two people； Gromph and Quenthel。 She can't really talk to Gromph anymore because she's keeping him in the dark with the rest of the males。 I doubt she'll see much of Quenthel for a while； either。 The tiny she…demon will stay busy contending with her own problems。 She's endured some sort of mishap up on Tier Breche。〃
Umrae twisted her head around to look at her sister conspirator and said； 〃I've heard rumors about that。 What actually happened？〃
〃I don't know…〃 Though I wish to the goddess I did； she thought… 〃but whatever it was；